Staten Island, N.Y. -- At three years of age, Jake Schron has already lived an extraordinary life.

In December 2012, the Port Richmond child was diagnosed with end-stage dilated cardiomyophathy, or an enlarged heart. Jake had trouble breathing and tired easily. He needed a heart transplant. Immediately after the diagnosis, his parents Shannon and Andrew Schron launched the Facebook page "Heart 4 Jake" to rally financial support online. In March of 2013, we wrote on Jake's story.

Within an hour, the page had 2,000 hits. The Schrons' online campaign went viral across the nation. Jake was a household name, but he still needed a heart. After 112 days -- over three months -- of waiting for a donor while living Montefiore's Children's Hospital in the Bronx, Jake underwent surgery that saved his life.

Over a year later, Jake is doing well. "He's running around, keeping everyone in our family busy," Shannon Schron laughs.

Around 70 people showed up for the Heart 4 Jake National Donate Life event on Tuesday afternoon, April 22, on Staten Island University Hospital's (SIUH) front lawn. "Really, he's doing everything a normal, 3-year-old kid should be doing. We're really, really excited and hope that he continues to progress in the years down the line,"

said Mrs. Schron.

"Even to health care professionals -- it's a miracle," said Donna Proske, a registered nurse and the executive director at SIUH. "Seeing Jake is absolutely unbelievable."

The National Donate Life event takes place every April. This year, Jake and his family were invited as honorary guests. Along with speeches from Shannon Schron and officials from the hospital, Jake was invited to plant a cherry blossom tree on the front lawn as part of Earth Day and to honor donors who "gave the gift of life." The cherry blossom symbolizes, in accord with Japanese culture, life's fragility and beauty.

Jake's new heart was made available by a family that lost their own child. The family wishes to remain anonymous during their grieving process. In her speech, Shannon Schron could not thank them enough for what they'd done for Jake.

"There are no words that could truly express how grateful we are to this family who gave our son a chance to live," she said.

Mrs. Schron and SIUH officials stressed the importance of organ donor awareness. "We will remain committed to promoting the importance and the need for organ donation," said Mrs. Schron. She now uses the Heart 4 Jake Facebook page to raise awareness through its 11,000 followers. "Jake is living proof that organ donation saves lives."

One donor can save eight lives, officials echoed in their speeches. "We've have four donors this year so far. So, if you do the math, that's 32 lives that have been saved," said Eric Cohen, trauma program manager at SIUH, who implored attendees to become registered donors at the New York Donor Network website.

For families still waiting for organ donations, Shannon Schron advises, "Take one day at a time. enjoy the time you have with your loved one and cherish those memories. Keep praying and your community will rally behind you."